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Halloween Traditions/my neighbor told me I'm going to
Posted: Oct 16, 2009
This is kind of a double post so I didn't take up board space!
FIRST: I have a new neighbor and we had introduced herself when she moved in and we were all friendly. I recently decorated for H-ween. Nothing too much just a big lighted up pumpkin, an inflatable ghost, and a couple of those wind socks on the porch. Anyway yesterday her and a couple of her church girlfriends came over and knocked on my door. I answered all polite and then she told me that Halloween is the devil's holiday and she was greatly offended that I would put such "trash" outside for everyone to see. She said that she thought my family was a nice family until she found out that we worshiped the devil! I was a little taken back and told her that I have celebrated Halloween since I was young, it is about kids having fun with candy, and I am keeping my damn decorations on my porch and she needed to kindly go back off and get off my porch before I say something that I will regret later! She walked off one of her friends told me I was going to hell. I said " I would rather be in hell then stuck in heaven with crazy people like you! The gall of you people! Get a life!" This happened yesterday and I can't believe it that things like that really happen! That was something out of a sitcom. I live in a rural setting. That woman had to walk 100 feet or more down a gravel road to come talk to me! Okay sorry I had to vent about that because it was unreal!!!
SECOND: The whole Halloween thing got me to thinking about traditions beyond the trick or treating norm. I would like to do something more! What traditions do your families celebrate on halloween?
;
What nerve - mb
[ In Reply To ..]She must be Jehova Witness because they do not celebrate halloween. I don't think she should put her believes on you. Well at least you know she won't be knocking on your door preaching the bible or will she.
i don't think so - JD
[ In Reply To ..]I'm sorry that happened to you. I can, however, promise you that whoever she was she wasn't one of Jehovah's Witnesses. If she was, she wouldn't be coming around with a group of friends insulting you and calling your decorations trash. Also, Witnesses don't believe in hell. They may choose not to celebrate Halloween, but understand it's up to you if you celebrate or not and it's not their place to judge. :)
Halloween decorations - travelinMT
[ In Reply To ..]I think I would have grabbed my purse, gotten in my car as soon as they walked off and driven right straight to the store for more decorations. How about doing a haunted house in your garage, maybe they would then consider moving?
Hey, here's a thought! Go online and learn the - Thriller "zombie dance", then get - sm
[ In Reply To ..]a bunch of your friends together with all the gory zombie makeup, and do the dance in your frontyard. (Or better yet, in HERS!) That might drive that banshee out of your neighborhood for good!
Having a neighbor like that would make me keep my - Halloween decorations up year-round!
[ In Reply To ..]nm
She sounds like she's got more than a few screws loose. - Zircon
[ In Reply To ..]This is why I have such a problem with organized religion. People like her go off the deep end with it, interpret it all literally, and are all up in everyone's face about it. She probably believes rock music is the "devil's music", I'll bet.
Halloween is about fun, and nothing else.
While I think she should have kept her opinion to herself - (sm)
[ In Reply To ..]I do believe firmly that a true Christian will not 'celebrate' Halloween for what it represents and the way society engages in it.
It is anti-God and anti-Christianity in every way.
I don't freely offer that opinion but since you brought it up and seem shocked at her feelings, it is fair to allow me to respond.
I find it very sad that in today's so-called Christian culture, it is acceptable to behave in such a way and feel that God appreciates, approves and is accepting of it. But, that's part of the self-justification that occurs now, I suppose.
Sad. Sad indeed.
Talk about scary! Forgive them, they know not what they do...sm - flybye
[ In Reply To ..]I'm so sorry about your "Christian" neighbor; I don't think having a jack'o-lantern, a plastic ghost, and some wind socks is a one-way ticket to satan's party in hell! She and her friend are sadly mistaken; they're behavior was far from "righteous." On the contrary, it was mean-spirited and unchristian!
If you have an opportunity to speak with her again, invite her to research Halloween...its roots are actually associated with "All Hallows Eve"...
"the Roman Catholic Church sees Halloween as having a Christian connection.[32] Father Gabriele Amorth, a Vatican-appointed exorcist in Rome, has said, "[I]f English and American children like to dress up as witches and devils on one night of the year that is not a problem. If it is just a game, there is no harm in that."[1] Most Christians hold the view that the tradition is far from being "satanic" in origin or practice and that it holds no threat to the spiritual lives of children: being taught about death and mortality, and the ways of the Celtic ancestors actually being a valuable life lesson and a part of many of their parishioners' heritage."
(from Wikpedia)
There ya go! Have a Safe and Happy Halloween!
From the history books... - NDM
[ In Reply To ..]According to History.com:
"Halloween's origins date back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (pronounced sow-in).
The Celts, who lived 2,000 years ago in the area that is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and northern France, celebrated their new year on November 1. This day marked the end of summer and the harvest and the beginning of the dark, cold winter, a time of year that was often associated with human death. Celts believed that on the night before the new year, the boundary between the worlds of the living and the dead became blurred. On the night of October 31, they celebrated Samhain, when it was believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. In addition to causing trouble and damaging crops, Celts thought that the presence of the otherworldly spirits made it easier for the Druids, or Celtic priests, to make predictions about the future. For a people entirely dependent on the volatile natural world, these prophecies were an important source of comfort and direction during the long, dark winter.
To commemorate the event, Druids built huge sacred bonfires, where the people gathered to burn crops and animals as sacrifices to the Celtic deities.
During the celebration, the Celts wore costumes, typically consisting of animal heads and skins, and attempted to tell each other's fortunes. When the celebration was over, they re-lit their hearth fires, which they had extinguished earlier that evening, from the sacred bonfire to help protect them during the coming winter.
By A.D. 43, Romans had conquered the majority of Celtic territory. In the course of the four hundred years that they ruled the Celtic lands, two festivals of Roman origin were combined with the traditional Celtic celebration of Samhain.
The first was Feralia, a day in late October when the Romans traditionally commemorated the passing of the dead. The second was a day to honor Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruit and trees. The symbol of Pomona is the apple and the incorporation of this celebration into Samhain probably explains the tradition of "bobbing" for apples that is practiced today on Halloween.
By the 800s, the influence of Christianity had spread into Celtic lands. In the seventh century, Pope Boniface IV designated November 1 All Saints' Day, a time to honor saints and martyrs. It is widely believed today that the pope was attempting to replace the Celtic festival of the dead with a related, but church-sanctioned holiday. The celebration was also called All-hallows or All-hallowmas (from Middle English Alholowmesse meaning All Saints' Day) and the night before it, the night of Samhain, began to be called All-hallows Eve and, eventually, Halloween. Even later, in A.D. 1000, the church would make November 2 All Souls' Day, a day to honor the dead. It was celebrated similarly to Samhain, with big bonfires, parades, and dressing up in costumes as saints, angels, and devils. Together, the three celebrations, the eve of All Saints', All Saints', and All Souls', were called Hallowmas."
According to history, Halloween does have roots in spiritism and worship of the dead. It was merely the Catholic Church's attempt to convert the Celts that they adopted a new version of their beloved celebration. It still doesn't change where it came from. Halloween is more than innocent jack-o-lanterns and candy. Its roots are disgusting and the celebration is becoming ever more so.
Most religions have pretty creepy roots..... - What matters is what they are TODAY. (sm)
[ In Reply To ..]If one were keeping score, then Halloween has a better reputation, and is less "evil", than Catholocism, Islam, Christianity, etc.
I agree - NDM
[ In Reply To ..]I agree with you. Most religions today do have creepy roots. Unfortunately, if they are still observing the same celebrations and traditions that were creepy years ago, what makes them less creepy now? Catholicism took on too many shady observances to count. True Christians do not, however, celebrate them because they know God cares where they came from.
Family Halloween Tradition...sm - elaine
[ In Reply To ..]In answer to your second question about halloween traditions, at my house we like to go out at night and toilet-paper the houses of busybody neighbors. ! Kidding :o
I love cutting out pumpkins and making jack-o-lanterns on a crisp fall day. It's fun to save the pumpkin seeds and toast them on a cookie sheet, too.
When she told you how offended she was about - Tired&CrankyMT
[ In Reply To ..]such "trash" outside for everyone to see, you missed your chance to tell her she's exactly right and that her and her buddies should run inside quickly. lol
Halloween - Just my take
[ In Reply To ..]I also am a Christian but I don't feel it is our "job" to judge anyone. I personally do not like Halloween (and I have children) but I don't judge anyone that decorates/celebrates, etc. I feel this is their business. For Halloween, we still pass out candy to other children and normally we will take our children to a couple of close friends and family members. They do dress up if they want to but we try to have them wearing "nice" costumes, nothing scary, gross etc. We don't decorate for Halloween but we do decorate for fall - bales of hay, pumpkins, etc. I think that was very rude of your neighbor to do that and definitely not very Christian-like. Being a Christian is being like Christ - which is treating people with love.
Being a Christian is being like Christ - I agree
[ In Reply To ..]I agree that is what being a Christian means. Jesus did show people love. While I agree we should not judge others, can you see Jesus celebrating Halloween?
Halloween - just my take
[ In Reply To ..]I agree. No, not at all! Not everyone has seen the grace and mercy of God and many people don't know Him as their personal Lord and Savior.
re: Halloween - i agree...
[ In Reply To ..]And for those who do not recognize Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they can feel free to celebrate whichever holiday they choose. For those who are professing to be Chrsitians, however, they should be more selective in what they are celebrating.
I totally agree with you. The only thing I didn't agree with from the sm - just my take
[ In Reply To ..]original poster is how this woman treated her. I don't think they should have told her she was going to Hell. That is not for anyone on this earth to decide.
I can't see Him celebrating Halloween unless he has a fake beard and a long white robe. : ) - elaine
[ In Reply To ..]Just had to lighten it up a little here. :) In truth, I can imagine Him celebrating Halloween. I understand He was very tolerant, particularly with children.
Not to be too serious...but - really?
[ In Reply To ..]Yes he loved children. That doesnt mean he would dress up and celebrate a holiday that goes against everything that he stood for. Halloween is dark and satanic...Jesus would be appaled that people professing to follow him engage in such a holiday...whether they think its innocent or not.
If you knew anything about Him, you'd be afraid to make such a statement. - nm
[ In Reply To ..]nm
Why should anyone be fearful? Is He vengeful? - I thought He was a Nice Guy! nm
[ In Reply To ..]nm
I have a hard time picturing Him at a cookout and watching fireworks in the evening. - sm
[ In Reply To ..]So, maybe I shouldn't be celebrating 4th of July?
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